Conductor's Corner: When What You Say Is Not What You Get

Axel Theimer | Adults/Seniors, Conducting, Education, Performance, Rehearsal, Research/Data, Singing

Do you feel like the instructions you are giving your singers in rehearsal are not getting the desired result? Conductor Axel Theimer, the founder and artistic director of the Twin Cities-based Kantorei, has developed new approaches that align with research on how humans learn best. Consider his strategies for putting your singers at ease and tapping into their abilities. Read more

Hope and Hard Work: Government Support of the Arts in the U.S.

Ann Meier Baker | Civic Engagement, Community Outreach, Fundraising, General, Government/Policy, History, Impact/Value, Research/Data

During campaign season, "government support" comes up often as a discussion topic. As the U.S. approaches its November election, it feels like an appropriate time to remind ourselves about how government support applies to the arts. Here are some thoughts from Chorus America to get you started. Read more

Sing for Your Life: What We Can Learn from the “Singing Cultures”

Chorus America Staff | Adults/Seniors, Children/Youth, Health, Impact/Value, Participation, Research/Data, Singing

In Finland, people sing in choirs well into their golden years. Julene Johnson, PhD, a research professor at University of California, San Francisco, tells what she has learned about the importance of choral singing and healthy aging. Read more

The Shifting Sands of Demand

Trends in Arts Audience Behaviors

Alan Brown | Audiences, Community Outreach, Innovation, Marketing/Public Relations, Performance, Research/Data, Social Media

Drawing on a wide range of arts industry research and his own observations about the larger environment in which arts groups operate, Alan Brown shares six interrelated macro trends affecting audience behaviors and demand for arts programming. Read more

The Choral Works of Stephen Chatman

Chorus America Staff | Conducting, Repertoire, Research/Data

Research Memorandum Series No. 201. This issue provides insight into the music of Stephen Chatman, internationally known Canadian composer and teacher. Graeme Langager gives us a complete listing of Chatman's published and unpublished choral compositions. Read more

Making the Case for Your School Choir: An Advocacy Guide

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Civic Engagement, Education, Impact/Value, Research/Data, Schools, Technique/Tool

Given the situation at the federal, state, and local levels, Chorus America developed this guide to help chart a path toward proactive advocacy on behalf of choral music education. Contains a step-by-step advocacy plan as well as research and statistics on the value of choral singing in school from more than 40 studies. Read more

'Making the Case' Tool: Quotes Linking Arts Education and Student Achievement

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Civic Engagement, Education, Impact/Value, Research/Data, Schools, Technique/Tool

A list of useful quotes from influential leaders in support of the arts and choral music. Read more

'Making the Case' Tool: Choral Singing and Student Achievement Fact Sheet

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Civic Engagement, Education, Impact/Value, Research/Data, Schools, Technique/Tool

In the 21st century, America’s manufacturing-driven economy is being replaced by a creative economy. President Obama is calling for a “complete and competitive education” to ensure our place in the global economy. How do the arts—and choral music specifically—help prepare our students to meet these challenges? Read more